Ballast Question...???

R

raymond4133

New member
Like many have already read...I have a m57 ballast and well I can't use my aqua medic bulbs on them (utterly I'am being forced to sell or trade them).

So in response to this somebody told me that I could make my m57 ballast compatiable with european bulbs by just adding an ignitor in line with the ballast...?

If i did this will my european bulbs work with this ballast well and not alter the life of the bulbs...

I assume that this is the only difference with the two ballast (one has an ignitor(m137) and one does not (m57)...

Is this true and is there any electrical stores in sacramento that have a ballast ignitor and could show me how to wire it correctly since Iam not so much the diy person and I really don't want to electricute myself...

As much as possible I want to save these bulbs and use them...

Any input would be greatly appreciated...
 
Dont do it :(

"FAQ:
Q. Can I run a probe start style MH lamp (bulb) on a pulse start MH ballast and vice-versa?
A. The manufacturers of the ballasts and lamps do not recommend this. What adverse effects will it have? Ballasts/lamps are designed to be run as a circuit within certain tolerances (line input, starting voltage, current, etc.). Electrical components should be operated as specified. By not following these guidelines, you may increase the chance of risk, damage to your equipment, premature failure of lamps and other potential hazards. Lamp manufacturers do not guarantee lamp performance or reliability if incorrect ballast is used with a lamp."
~hello lights



" Using pulse ignition MH lamps on non-ignitor systems could cause premature lamp failure. A standard North American ballast (non-ignitor system) will cause excessive stress on the electrodes. Some pulse ignition lamps may not even light on these ballasts."
~Paul Erik Hirvonen


-Justin
 
Alright, I see that I thought the latter quote specifically answered it but it doesnt say using the ballast with an ignitor. Ive been searching diagrams and boards for about 15 minutes and cannot find anything about using this ballast with an ignitor, I know your suppose to with the m137 as it's an inclusive kit and labled thusly or a different one altogether.

Soo, I dont know. Who told you that they were the exact same just one has an ignitor and one doesnt? Have they done this before? I would only do this with some experience evolved,I know that the m57 uses high current to drive the american bulbs while the m137 comes with an ignitor to deliver the high voltage, Im sure one could cross reference the output,amps and voltage to see if there the same.
Im gonna take a break for a bit but I'll come back and search just cuz Im interested now :)

-Justin
 
Justin...I know what you are saying but is it possible just to get a ignitor and install it in line with the rest of the ballast...

I know now that firing these aqua medic bulbs on a non igniter ballast is a big no no...

But I was told by another reefer that if I just by the ignitor and install it with the ballast, capacitor ,etc than my problem would be solved...It sounds like it could work but I just want to uncover thr truth about this perhaps myth...

So would it be possible to "convert" my m57 ballast into a compatible ballast that will fire the aqua medic lamps by simply putting in line a "ignitor" that I can get from any electrical shop...

If not then I guess I really am doom and have no other choice to sell/trade the darn lamps...(since buying new (european compatible bulb ballasts are out of the question at least for the forseen future)

Thanks Justin for the info...
 
Oops one minute to early...

Well anyways...Thanks Justin for helping find some answers...

I have been searching too for the answer to wheter converting a m57 ballast to basically a m137 or ignitor ballast is possible....

I think I should ask an electrician though about this issue...Or perhaps I will call a ballast company...


-I too am very interested in the possibility of converting ballast and want to put this possible myth to rest...

-I will also try to ask this other reefer if they had done it themselves...
 
my .02 is this...A pulse start ballast does something that a probe (switch) start ballast doesnt, which is to provide almost double the initial starting current to ignite the Pulse start lamp. I dont know if addding an ignitor to a standard probe start ballast will do what a pulse start is designed to do. Then again..Im not an electrician
 
This is the exact reason I did not piece my system together when first going to MH....

I believe on Sanjay Joshi's site he has a defintion or an article describing the differences....

I "think" that I have the M80 with mine which is the one for DE bulbs.
 
Well before I bought my aqualine lamps I checked out some of Sanjay's reports and well I finally found that report that led me into thinking that these Aqualine bulbs can be used with M57...Is it me or is this a different bulb than what I have or is it a possiblity that these bulbs can work on m57...(Iam so confused right now)


this is what the article said:


Aqualine Buschke 175W 10000K

Mogul BaseTable 10: Aqualine Bushke 175W 10000K Mogul Base performance on all ballasts
Ballast Power
Watts Input
Volts Input
Amps PPFD CCT Efficiency
PPFD/Watt
ARO (Electronic) 178 123.2 1.61 71.5 10498 0.4017
Icecap (Electronic) 174 123.4 1.55 70.8 10747 0.4069
EVC (Electronic) 181 123.2 1.55 72.5 10100 0.4006

and you can clearly see (m57) right below with all the readings...

Magnetic (M57) 189 123.4 1.84 73.5 10565 0.3889

here is the link to the report...or analysis


www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/review+ppfd+sanjay&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1]http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:LeYdieAzynQJ:www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/review+ppfd+sanjay&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1[/URL]
 
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